Orthocell to present positive data from pilot study of tendon cell treatment at international hip meeting

Regenerative medicine company Orthocell Limited is pleased to announce it will present new positive two year data from a study of its tendon cell treatment for degenerate hip (gluteal) tendons at the 3rd Melbourne International Hip Arthroscopy meeting.

The study shows Orthocell’s Ortho-ATI™ therapy significantly improved the clinical outcome of patients with long-term gluteal tendon degeneration. The data shows reduced pain and increased functionality at the two year review time point, following a single ultrasound guided injection of Ortho-ATI™.

Orthocell is also hosting a symposium entitled “Development of Cell Therapy Options for Hip Tendinopathy: The translation of tendinopathy from pathology to clinical treatment.”

The symposium will focus on the clinical outcomes of Ortho-ATI™, rehabilitation of patients following the injection, and the treatment pathways and options available to surgeons in the treatment of degenerate hip tendons. Presenters at the symposia are Professor M. H. Zheng, Professor Jay Ebert and Professor J. Fitzpatrick.

The meeting is being held on January 21 and 22 and brings together world leading hip surgeons to discuss the latest developments and advances in hip therapy.

Orthocell Managing Director Paul Anderson said:

This positive Ortho-ATI™ data and the symposia on the development of cell therapies to treat degenerate hip tendons provides surgeons with the positive Ortho- ATI™ clinical data, an understanding of what are the causes and pathways of degeneration, as well as an understanding of when is the right time to treat their patients with Ortho-ATI™.

Gluteal tendon injury is a very common and difficult to treat injury, affecting mostly women between the ages of 35 and 65. Every time you step on your right foot, your right gluteal muscles are vital in keeping your pelvis stable and preventing your left hip from dropping. Given the frequency with which they must act (every second stride), it is easy to understand how important they are. Gluteal tendon injury can result in pain, loss of function and difficult gait, interrupted sleep and long term joint damage.

The pilot study investigated the effect of Ortho-ATI^TM in 13 patients who had failed all previous treatment attempts with an average symptom range of 33 months. All patients were assessed by an independent therapist out to two years and demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in pain and function at three months, which was maintained out to 24 months.

Some studies have suggested that the incidence of gluteal tendon injury in women could be as high as 25%, making it one of the most debilitating degenerative injuries suffered, particularly in women over the age of 40. Given that surgical intervention is not generally effective in advanced tendinopathy, Ortho-ATI™ provides a new and potentially disease modifying intervention for gluteal tendon injuries.

“Orthocell and our world-leading stem cell regeneration therapies are providing significant relief to sufferers and as the population ages and degenerate tendon conditions become more prevalent, doctors and patients are seeking out cost effective and clinically effective treatments to alleviate symptoms that affect their mobility and quality of life,” Mr Anderson said.